Gettering of copper in silicon at half of the projected ion range induced by helium implantation

Secondary ion mass spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering/channeling spectrometry, and elastic recoil detection analysis measurements were used to determine the Cu gettering behavior induced by He implanted into Si samples. This study was done in an iterative way by changing the implanted He fluence (5x10(15)-3x10(16) cm(-2)), implantation temperature (room temperature or 350 degreesC), and implantation conditions (random or channel implants). Upon postimplantation annealing at 800 degreesC for 600 s, in addition to the gettering at the projected range (R-p) region, the room temperature implanted samples also present Cu gettering in a region corresponding to the half of the projected range (R-p/2) depth. Also a threshold fluence (Phi approximate to 7x10(15) at/cm(2)) was determined for the appearance of the R-p/2 effect. In contrast, for the 350 degreesC implants, the Cu impurities are detected only close to the R-p region where the He induced cavities are formed. The gettering effect at R-p/2 region is discussed in terms of the cavity formation mechanisms and their influence on the point defect fluxes taking place during the thermal annealing. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.